The 21st Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta is just weeks away and Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition members and volunteers are meeting on Sunday, August 31 starting at noon to work on decorations. If you would like to help make decorations and are 21 years or older contact Fiesta Chairperson Kristina Flores at FloresK@elpasotexas.gov. Please bring crafting materialsContinue reading "Volunteers are needed to help with Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta decorations"
Chihuahuan Desert Celebration Day
Texas horned lizard. Proclamation City of El Paso Be it Proclaimed: by the Mayor and Council of the City of El Paso, encouraging all residents to take part in honoring and protecting this treasured desert landscape through education, celebration, and conservation efforts. September 27, 2025, and the fourth Saturday of each September thereafter, shall beContinue reading "Chihuahuan Desert Celebration Day"
Conservation at the Crossroads – War against the wolf
Former Texas Governor Ann Richards 1933-2006 Former Texas Governor Ann Richards was the most prominent politician in Texas to support wolf recovery in the wilderness areas of West Texas. What needs to happen to bring back this apex predator to the northern Chihuahuan Desert?Free Presentation - Thursday, August 7, 7pm, Westside Regional Command Center -Continue reading "Conservation at the Crossroads – War against the wolf"
Zoo sponsors Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta logo contest
Photos - Cover, lechuguilla flower at Franklin Mountains State Park by Rick LoBello
Discover Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife at the Zoo.
Check out the latest post from the Zoo's Conservation Education blog featuring wildlife in our big backyard and beyond.If you would like to be a guest blogger on our website contact us today. We would love to hear from you!
Yamel Guadalupe Anaya Olguín rejoins CDEC board
by Rick LoBello, Board of Directors Chair Over the past few years, the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition has expanded its outreach into Mexico. Many are unaware of how most of the Chihuahuan Desert is in Mexico with only about 10% located in West Texas, Southern New Mexico and a small corner of Arizona. Yamel andContinue reading "Yamel Guadalupe Anaya Olguín rejoins CDEC board"
Check out our CDEC calendar
Volunteers at a map folding party at the Zoo. Earlier this year we put together a small PDF Calendar you can download here with the dates of upcoming CDEC meetings and events. If you would like to help with a new calendar for 2026 contact us to learn more. Currently we are meeting in personContinue reading "Check out our CDEC calendar"
Spadefoots are awake!
Couch's spadefoot toad burrowing into the sand. by Rick LoBello I am so happy to see the return of the monsoon rains to El Paso and hope that the rain continues because everyone living in the Chihuahuan Desert knows how much we need rain. Three nights ago, my neighborhood received an inch or more andContinue reading "Spadefoots are awake!"
Northern Chihuahuan Desert Wildflowers
Claret-cup cactus in the Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park. Feature photo above; lechuguilla in bloom at Franklin Mountains State Park, El Paso, Texas. Both photos by Rick LoBello. Be sure to tell your friends about this free blog. To subscribe simply enter your email address here. What kinds of flowers are you seeing? byContinue reading "Northern Chihuahuan Desert Wildflowers"
Join the 2025 Pollinator BioBlitz in Ciudad Juárez!
Espanol Join the 2025 Pollinator BioBlitz in Ciudad JuárezWhat is a BioBlitz?It’s a citizen science effort aimed at documenting as many pollinator species as possible. How does it work?To achieve this, members of the CDEC will be participating in and organizing a new event in honor of Pollinator Week. The group Voces de la Ciencia Juarense has launchedContinue reading "Join the 2025 Pollinator BioBlitz in Ciudad Juárez!"